Specimen Collection, Storage, & Shipment

Serologic Testing

Serologic Testing table

Specimen Type: Blood (serum)

Minimum Amount

0.5-1 ml preferred; 0.1 ml minimum

Collection

Collect by venipuncture or by finger/heel stick.

Optimum time-point for serum collection is 5 days after onset of symptoms (fever and rash). If serum collected less than 5 days after onset is negative, a second sample would be necessary to confirm/rule out rubella.

Storage

Can be stored at 4°C or at -20°C prior to shipping.

Shipping

Can be shipped overnight on a wet ice pack or frozen with dry ice.

Comments

Use tubes without additives.

Centrifuge the tube to separate serum from clot.

Gel separation tubes should be centrifuged no later than 2 hours after collection.

Do not freeze the tube before serum has been removed.

Aseptically transfer serum to a sterile tube that has an externally threaded cap with an o–ring seal.

Capillary tubes can be utilized for infants. Capillary tubes require the submitter to have access to the appropriate centrifuge for these capillary tubes. At least 3 of the 50 ul hematocrit capillary tubes should be collected and spun in a hematocrit centrifuge.

Hemolyzed and lipemic serum and plasma are noted and tested, often without apparent interferences.

Freeze at -70°C or if ultra-low temperature freezers are not available, keep sample at 4°C.

If ultra-low freezers are available, freeze the re-suspended urine sediment at -70°C. If facilities for processing the urine are not available, keep the un-centrifuged urine sample at 4°C and ship on cold packs as soon as possible in a leak-proof container.

Shipping

Ship on cold packs if stored at 4°C, with dry ice if frozen at -70°C.

Ship on cold packs if stored at 4°C, with dry ice if frozen at -70°C

Comments

It is important to transport samples with cold packs as soon as possible following sample collection.

Clinical Samples from CRS Cases

Naso-pharyngeal swabs and urine samples should be collected as close to birth as possible and stored and shipped as described above for acute samples. To screen for shedding from confirmed CRS cases, naso-pharyngeal and/or urine samples should be collected monthly after the age of 3 months to determine if rubella RNA is still present in the specimen. Collection of samples can be stopped after two consecutive negative tests are obtained. In CRS cases where cataracts are present, surgically removed cataracts can be submitted for molecular testing. Rubella virus RNA has been detected in cataracts up to three years after birth.